Lawn mower



Feb. 28; 1933. P; CARQLUS 1,899,181

LAWN MOWER Filed Oct. 23, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 28, 1933. J c Ro us 1,899,1811

LAWN MOWER Filed Oct. 23, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwnnntoo F 8. 1933. P. J. CARIOLUS 1,899,181

LAWN MOWER Filed Oct. 23, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ll HHHIIIIIJIIIIII it w R J- CaToZua Feb. 28, 1933. P. J. CAROLUS LAWN MOWER Filed Oct. 23, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Pf iarolua Patented l -:13.128, 1933 se s a lication and October as, so. admit. 490,768.

This invention relates to lawn imowers,

@1188, as w1ll be hereinafter more -fullyset and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which is power operated and which in addition to efiectivelycutting ass embodies means whereby cut grass may be readily collected thereby obviating the necessity of a se arate rakinggioperation;

It is also an ob]ect of the invention to, rovide a lawn mower adapted to be operate by an electric motor, together with means car- 7 ried by the mower permitting the motor'to be maintained in desired connectionwith a source of electrical energy; while the mower is employed to cut grass over a ;relatively" large area.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind'wherein the electric motor for operating the mower. is adapted to have electrical connection through the medium of a flexible cable, together with means carried by the mower forwinding and .un-\' 1 winding such cable as the requirements of practice may necessitate:

An additional ob ect of the invention is to provide a mower of this kind embodyingthe with respect to the. axes of: said blades so that a shear cut is provided. i v

Th'inventionalso has for an object topr'ovide for use in connection with alawn mower of thiskind a propto. be arranged asdesired whereb itis possibleto permit themowerito be emp oyed in connection with" a: very large area. A still further object of the 40 rovide in connection with a-moweri of this Eind means whereby a trimmermay be: employed for cutting grass inxplaces generally inaccessible by the mower proper andalsofor trimming hedges or. the like. The invention consists in:

construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved lawn mower where'by certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and other- 1 particularly inventionis to;- a

a 1 forth. a. v

[The novel features of my invention will i panying drawings, wherein I constructed .in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, certain of the parts 1 being omitted; s F1 ure 2 is =a. longitudinal vertical tfon viewtaken throu hthe mower asillus- --trated in Figure 1 wit the chute in position;

tafn of the parts broken away;

the mower; g

Figure Bisanenlarged fragmentary view will now proceed to do, scribe the same with reference to the accom Figure 1 is aview in. top planof a m'owerwise more convenient'and advantageous for a Figure 3is a view in side elevation'of the V mower as illustrated in Figure 1 with oer o a vro- Figure: 4is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in front elevation and partly in section illustrating the reel carried by I partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the means for efl'ecting an electrical? connection with the line or cableupon their eel; Figure 6 is a carried by the reel i 'QFigure-7'is a dia a herein embodied; v

- partly: inisection' and artly intop plan musfragmentary view in top plan I- "particularly illustrating the connecting plug .Fi ure'8 is a viewin plan of the trimming \ratta'c ment asherein comprised;

Figure 9*i's an enlarged'fragmentaryview ammatic view in plan, 1 illustrating the stationary blade and one of for coactmn with the power-lme'or cablenthe'blades of the cutting member or reel as trating a portion of t e operating means for v the trimmeras illustrated in Figure 8 illustrated in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a view in elevation .of a prop i for the conductor or cable as herein set forth.

Figure 10i s-i a view partly in section and partlysin elevation of the operating means as the details (if As disclosed in the accompanying drawported by the forward portions of the side members '2 for a purpose to members 20f desired length andconfiguration. The forward extremity of'each oi 'these side members 2 is preferably enlarged,.as atv 3, to provide a substantially cylindrical head while the rear portion 2. of each of the sidemembers 2 isupwardly offset.

The rear portions 27 of the sidevmembers 2 have interposed therebetween a saddle on platform 4 upon. one end ortion of which, or at a pointadjacent oneo the side members 2, is mounted an electric motor'M'. The portions 2 are provided with the outwardly directed aligned trunnions 5 upon which are mounted the groundengaging; driving wheels 6. One of these wheels 6"1s provided with an internal gear 7 having constantly in: mesh therewitha pinion 8-carriedby the stud shaft 9 extendin'gthrough theadjacentsidemember 2 and rotatably supported thereby vand; by the inwardly disposed bracket 10.

Freely mounted on thisshaft9 is a pulley 11 having a clutch hub 12; Coacting with the 1 clutch hub 12 is a clutch member 14 keyedto the stud shaft 9' for rotation/therewith but capable of sliding movement lengthwise of: said shaft 9 so that the member 14 may be moved into or out of clutching engagements with the clutchhub 12; The'shifting of this member Mmay be accomplished'in any manner desired, As particularly illustrated in Figure 1', the clutchmember 14 is rovided with a continuous annular groove 15 m which is received an end portion of an arm.16.

This arm 16 is supported in any desired manner for rocking movement, as at 17; by'the table or saddle 4 and the pivoted endportion' of said arm 16 is-provided with an angularly disposed tail piece 18 with which is operativelyenga d an extremity of an elongated rod'19. This'rod 19is adaptedto'ext'end rearwardly and upwardly along a handle member 20 whereby the operator at will may shift the rod 19in the required direction to move the clutch member 14' either into or out of'clut'ching engagement with the clutch hub 12;

The pulley 11 is in driven connection by a belt 21 or the like with a pulley 22 fixed to an end port-ion of areel shaft 23. This shaft 23, as herein set forth, bridges the space be tween the side members 2 and is directed through and rotatably supported by'the cylindrical portions 3 ofv said members 2; The extremities of the shaft 23 are herein disclosed as each projecting beyignd the side referred to.

Also fixed to the reel shaft 23 is a second pulley 24 which is in driven connection by the belt 25 with a; pulley 26 fixedtothe drive shaft 27 of the motor M. Through the medium of the belts 21: and 25 and their associated pulleys the mower is caused to travel forwardly by the motor M: andfduringwhich time the shaft'23is causedtorotate at desired hereinafter speech The ratio of the various pulleys isv such as may be best determined by practice andfl therefore,' do=not wish to beunderstood as limiting'my'self in any wayin this respect other than to state that the driving should be such as tocausethe mower to travel at a proper speed and for the shaft 23 to rotate tobest adran "e..

At desired pomts therealong; and between the side lmen'iber s"f2,v the-reel shaft 23 is providedwith-theop osite'ly directed armsv 28 the outer ends 6 1 which. having secured.

thereto the cuttin -blades 29. As particularly illustrated in :igure 7 ,the cutting edge 29a of each of the blades 29is disposed on an incline lengthwise thereof with. respect to-the longitu inal axisgofi the blade 29' for coaction with; 'a' *reversel y, inclined cutting; 30' ofuthe stationary cutting blade 30. By this relativearrangement of each of the blades 29 and blade 30a mowers i'sprovided;

having a: shear cutting action; thus materially facilitating the desired cutting of or the like;

Thebl'ade 30 atits opposite endportions is provided withrearwardly disposed arms 31 each of'which bein'g pivotally connected, as at 32', with a side member 2'zso that said blade 30- may have adjustment in a vertical direction under control. of a. headed memher or screw33 directed from above through serve to throw a draft of air rearwardly of' a chute C whereby the cut rass is effectively carried ofi and collected, t us obviating the necessity ofa separate raking operation.

The chute C when applied substantially bridges the space between the side members 21nd" has its forward end portion formed to provide a casin 37 in which. the arms 28 and 35" rotate. helower portion of this casing 37 is cut away, as at 38, so that the blades 29 and 30ewill have requisite access to the grass to be'cut. A marginal portion of the lower wall ofthe chute definingt'he lower or rear edge of the open portion 38 is returned toprovide abarrel 39 through which I is directed a rod 40, said rodbeing also operatively engaged with the-"side members 2 and thus providing means for effectively supporting the forward portion of the chute C in desired working position.

The chute C is disposedrearwardly on an upward curvature anditermin'at'es in a down wardl directed discharging portion 41. The-discharge spout 41 discharges within the pport d a y desir d m irrbet Pact er ly y welding-ere. t er is 'conn tm the air'is adapted to escape, cut gras e c u G is; 001-" lected within the receptacle42 and whenthis,

as blown back through t receptacle i fin maybe readilylrempved for dumping. a 1

The rear wallhf the hatether et ress'mem r 44 con'necting'the rearfiextrfemifigs Qftheside members 2.

On f thetrunn ensf etastable with s s e d w elfiisa d trunn on e teild n n r ly o the ad'a nt s -mem r 2 nd a ng fi to. see twee isposed p on =1 g 5. constant r n ine h ith second gear 46; v i p This gear fi is fixed-to rotate witha shaft 47 rotatablg'l 0f the sad 1 or "plat o m* end' yf he up:

standingposts or supports 49 ,carried by flld saddle or platform;

The posts 49 support a is arranged a reelR; said; reel rotating about a vertically disposed axis. The reel R has a tubular hub '51, one end portion of which being closed by a plugior cap 52 whilethe oppositeend portion. as telescopieally engaged therein and keyed thereto'the stub,

shaft 53 carried by ing the housing 50.

The periphera Wall Of-the housing 50-is provided with an opening .55 providlngian entrance fora conductor cable56 whichis adapted to be woundupon or unwound-from the reel R. v The plug 52 is ofia material non-conductive of; electricity and at its axial center is provided with anfelectrical contact 57 with which is engaged one ofthe' conductors within the cable 56, while the second conductor within the cable 56 is in electrical connection with the annular contact member 58 carried by the outer surface of the plug 52 and concentric to the contact 57 Thetop wall of the housing carries a socket 59 in which is adapted to be inserted a plug 60,

a, beyel gear 54 underly said plug whenso inserted, having a central;

Contact r ect i alen a em t W th th contact 57 and with asecond contact 62'for, coaction with the annular contact member 58. By this arrangement the applied plug The contact members 61 andfi2 of the plug 60 are in requisite electrical: connection wit a the conductors 64 in proper connectlon with rtion eiithe ut T may be sup o d by an enapor i n housing 50 in v he otQrMi ln emosed n, n o these condu'eters 64 a ec n ment! sw t h o conv nt o eli ype an here nv isclos as carried yf n o the ha dl members 2 Car iedby and xt di g wardl from, he hous ng 5 iset b a me 66 l e in f m. t e 0Pen ng' 5 in th p r he al well i a t h g: sesame throug wh h ubules .membe ti-fi he able- 6 s directed- This ubuler member fiei fer-th n uppsrted n ie-1 s r er icala'pos tieaby a b ace m m er 67 inte p s d be ween sai l me iibr 6 we adj esbnt Si member 2- Theme w en 66 Tnete ad iiresli d s! fiance above th .heus hg 5 and ha inv sw v-j ti e a me t w th t uppe nd h r zentalli d sposed tu ular ember 68, the one: d pqrtion 6: 1 whi h ing o h l P hr u t is ibr zlqnta ext nsi 5 and the irmat s n- Th ab smends ou war ly exterior extremity QfQthe cable 56- carries: ai plug or kindredielectrical, connectionirp whereby said cable maybe suitably coupled we ei cl e s t ie l er yiasa e nonalhou eh desket Thecable 56 is intended to be-of consis -l,

erablelength so that after beingeoupled. with H i a desired' sour ce of electrical ener 1 the mower may be caused to cov er'a consij erablei tr m s i orking one a i nh 'can/ be readily accomplished inlview of the gfa ft that the "cable 56" may befcaused to wind or unwind upon the reelRas may be required. The shaft 47 below the housing-50 has keyed-thereto'for rotation therewith a sleeve 71,said sleeve; however;beingcapable ofin- 3 p nd m men en hw s f th shaft 47. The sleeve 71 at Opposite sides of. the

gear 54' is provided with. the bevel gears 72;

providing means whereby upon shi ting of the sleeve 71vtobring one ofthe gears 72 in engagement with a the gear .54; the reel R willg a be rotated in one directionand upon reverse shifting of the sleeve 7 1, the second gear72 e reel R;

will be br g ti n n a em w t me 1 toefiect a retrograde rotation of the i As particularly illustrated in Figure 4,:it is to be notedithat the gears 7 2,.are spaced apart edis ence su fic ent aenable the sleeve 71 to be adin ted n a; qsition t ha b th of h ee- 2 fr e of' v g ar en und hic conditions the reel Bis neutral withrespect Onejend ortion ofthe sleeve 71 has operativelyj engaged therewith arocking fork .731

whereby the'isleeve 71 may be adjusted as desired. This fork7 3 is adapted to be operated s as desiredby an arm 7 5 extending to one'side of the machine and at a point readily accesthe reel R. Undersuch circumstances a supplemental cable may be employed the same coacting with a reel similar to the reel R carried by a prop P as illustrated in Figure 11. This prop Pas disclosed is of a character to be readily placed at any desired point upon a lawnor field. a

The housing carried by thisprop P is preferablyin swiveled connection therewith so-that arr-entrance tube 76 for the housing 50 maybeconveniently disposed in the desired direction toward the source of supply with whichthe supplemental cable 56 is adapted to be coupled. The housing 50 may be readily looked, as indicated: at 77, in its desired adjusted'position. 1. y

In the cutting of lawns it often occurs that thereare laces inaccessible by themower proper and therefore requiring a separate trimmingor'cutting operation. In order to do'this Iprovide' a trimming device T as parouter endof this shaft 85 has coupled therej to a flexible shaft 86'of desired length. This flexible shaft 86 carries a coupling 87 permitti'ng the shaft 86 to be connected to any suitable driven part of the mower proper, as for fsignature.

grass rearwardl of the reel, and a grass collector positione rearwardly of said cutting reel and receiving the grass from said blower elements.

3. In a lawn mower construction including a frame and rotatable cuttin blades; a collecting member carried by t e frame, and means rotatable with and disposed intermediate successive blades for discharging cut grass into said'member.

4. Amower comprising a frame, a cutting reel carried thereby, cutters carried b the reel, fanblades carried by the reel intermediate successive cutters, and a collectin chute carried b the frame and throu which the fan blades of the reel direct t e severedgrass or the like.

5. A mower comprising a frame, a cutting reel carried thereby, cutters carried b the reel, fan blades carried by the reel intermediate successive cutters, a collectin chute carried by the frame and through WhlOll the fan blades of the reel direct the severed rass or the like,'and a collecting receptac e to which the-chute discharges.

6. In a lawn mower construction including a frame and cutting members carried by the frame, and rotatable fan members carried by the frame intermediate successive cutting mem rs.

I In testimony whereof I-hereunto afiix my PETER J. oARoL'Us.

example an extended portion 88 "of the reel shaft-23. I

From the fore oing description it is thought to be obvious that a lawn mower constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason ofthe convenience. and facility with which it may) be assembled and operated, and it will also e obvious that m invention is susceptible of some change an modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason wish to be understood as limiting; myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts inafter claimed.

I claim do not erein shown in carrying 4 out my invention in practice except as hereing a cutting reel having cutting blades; fan

blades carried by the reel and positioned between successive cutter blades whereby to blow the cut grass rearw'ardly of the reel.

.92. In a lawn mower construction includin a" cutting reel; cutters carried by the rec, blower elements carried by the reel between successive cutters whereby to blow the cut 

